User equipment and media streaming network assistance node

ABSTRACT

A user equipment includes a wireless interface for communication with a cellular communication network. The user equipment is operative to receive, via the wireless interface, network assistance information for a media streaming session, and to transmit media streaming session related information to the cellular communication network.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention relate to wireless communication.Embodiments of the invention relate in particular to techniques in whichnetwork assistance information assists a user equipment in a mediastreaming session.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With increasing popularity of mobile voice and data communication, thereis an ever increasing demand for high-speed data communication. Userequipment operative to connect to a communication network, e.g.smartphones or portable computers, have advanced processingcapabilities. Many users consider the capability of retrieving a videoin a video streaming session to be significant benefit of the userequipment. Long delays in the playback process performed at the userequipment in a video streaming session may lead to frustration and arenot satisfactory in view of the technical expectations of many users.Such delays or other factors that negatively affect Quality ofExperience (QoE) may be caused by buffering strategies or otherstreaming algorithms that are not particularly suitable for the videostreaming session that is being performed to stream a video to the userequipment.

In a video streaming session, a user equipment may be connected to astreaming media content server connected to a wide area network, such asthe internet, via a cellular radio access network. The video streamingprotocol may provide an end-to-end connectivity protocol between theuser equipment and the content server. This end-to-end communication mayuse an adaptive bit rate (ABR) protocol, e.g. MPEG DASH. Within thisprotocol the user equipment is requested to dynamically select the videoquality for each downloaded video segment, matching the varying datarate available in the end to end communication link. A significant partof these variations may come from dynamic aspects in the radio accessnetwork. The radio access network might be a cellular network, a Wi-Fiaccess network or any other wireless network. A legacy implementation ofa network assistance protocol may aid a user equipment in selectingsuitable data rates. With such a network assistance protocol, the radioaccess network may share information collected by the radio accessnetwork to assist the user equipment in the process of identifyingsuitable media data rates that match current radio access networkconditions.

Conventional network assistance for video streaming has variousshortcomings. For illustration, the network assistance is based oncharacteristics determined by radio access network (RAN) nodes. Thenetwork assistance that can be provided based on such information may beof limited value to assist in setting parameters in the user equipmentfor a video streaming session.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is a continued need in the art for devices, systems and methods toassist a user equipment in setting parameters for a media streamingsession. There is in particular a need for devices, systems and methodsin which the user equipment can be provided with assistance which is notonly based on measurements performed in the radio access network.

According to embodiments, a user equipment generates media streamingsession related information based on characteristics monitored in amedia streaming session. A media streaming network assistance node maystore and optionally process the media session related informationprovided by the user equipment. The media streaming network assistancenode may use the media session related information provided by the userequipment and, optionally, other user equipments to provide networkassistance in subsequent media streaming sessions.

The media streaming session related information may include informationrelating to suitable buffer strategies, e.g. minimum, maximum or averagebuffer levels of a user equipment in a media streaming session. Themedia streaming network assistance node may use this information toprovide network assistance which allows the user equipment whichprovided the media streaming session related information or at least oneother user equipment to set suitable parameters for buffering. Oneexample for such a parameter is the buffer level which must be reachedbefore media outputting at an optical output unit of the user equipmentis started.

The media streaming session related information may include informationrelating to suitable streaming algorithm parameters, e.g. a Quality ofExperience (QoE) in the media streaming session and the associated mediaquality. The media streaming network assistance node may use thisinformation to provide network assistance which allows the userequipment which provided the media streaming session related informationor at least one other user equipment to set a suitable initial mediaquality. For illustration, medias may be available in at least twodifferent quality levels which may correspond to different imageresolutions, and the network assistance may be capable of using mediastreaming session related information reported by user equipments toassist in identifying the most suitable media quality from among the atleast two different quality levels.

As will be explained in more detail below, various embodiments areoperative to implement the collection of media streaming session relatedinformation by a media streaming network assistance node. The mediastreaming network assistance node may provide assistance informationwhich may, at least inter alia, be based on the media streaming sessionrelated information reported by user equipments in earlier mediastreaming sessions. The assistance provided thereby may allow the userequipment to select suitable or even optimum parameter values forbuffering strategies, media quality selection or other streamingalgorithm parameters.

A user equipment according to an embodiment comprises a wirelessinterface for communication with a radio access network in a mediastreaming session. The user equipment is operative to receive, via thewireless interface, network assistance information for execution of themedia streaming session. The user equipment is operative to generatemedia streaming session related information from characteristicsmonitored during the media streaming session, and transmit the mediastreaming session related information over the wireless interface to theradio access network for storage.

A user equipment having such a configuration transmits, in operation,media streaming session related information to a node for storage, whichallows the node to generate network assistance information based oncharacteristics monitored by user equipments.

The user equipment may be operative to generate a storage requestincluding the media streaming session related information. The storagerequest may cause storage of the media streaming session relatedinformation in a storage medium remote from the user equipment.

The storage medium may be comprised by a media streaming networkassistance node, which may be implemented as a base station or otherradio access network node or as a separate node having informationsharing connection to one or more radio access network nodes.

The storage request may cause a cellular network node of the cellularcommunication network or of another radio access network to store themedia streaming session related information. Mobile edge computing, MEC,may be used in a base station, e.g. an eNodeB, or in another radioaccess network node or a separate node having information sharingconnection to one or more radio access network nodes to provide networkassistance with only short processing delays.

The user equipment may be operative to generate the media streamingsession related information based on time-dependent changes of a bufferlevel during buffering in the media streaming session.

The user equipment may be operative to generate the media streamingsession related information based on buffer levels monitored during themedia streaming session and/or information relating to suitable mediaquality settings for the media streaming session.

The user equipment may be operative to generate the media streamingsession related information based on a maximum buffer level of the userequipment in the media streaming session.

Alternatively or additionally, the user equipment may be operative togenerate the media streaming session related information based on aminimum buffer level of the user equipment in the media streamingsession.

Alternatively or additionally, the user equipment may be operative togenerate the media streaming session related information based on anaverage buffer level of the user equipment in the media streamingsession.

Alternatively or additionally, the user equipment may be operative togenerate the media streaming session related information based on a timebetween user equipment initiated buffer refills.

Alternatively or additionally, the user equipment may be operative togenerate the media streaming session related information based on anumber of segments per buffer refill.

Alternatively or additionally, the user equipment may be operative togenerate the media streaming session related information based on anumber of buffer underruns.

Alternatively or additionally, the user equipment may be operative togenerate the media streaming session related information based ondurations of each buffer underrun.

Alternatively or additionally, the user equipment may be operative togenerate the media streaming session related information based on aquality of experience indicator in the media streaming session.

Alternatively or additionally, the user equipment may be operative togenerate the media streaming session related information based on anidentifier for the user equipment and/or an identifier for anapplication module of the user equipment which requires the networkassistance information.

The network assistance information received by the user equipment may bebased on information associated with a previous media streaming sessionreported by the user equipment and/or information associated with theprevious media streaming session reported by at least one further userequipment different from the user equipment. Information from one orseveral user equipments may be aggregated by a media streaming networkassistance node, may be processed further, and used by the userequipment to identify suitable settings for a media streaming session bymeans of network assistance.

The user equipment being operative to set at least one parameter of astreaming algorithm executed by the may be equipment during the mediastreaming session based on the network assistance information receivedby the user equipment.

Alternatively or additionally, the user equipment may be operative toset buffering parameters of a buffering performed in the media streamingsession based on the network assistance information received by the userequipment.

Alternatively or additionally, the user equipment may be operative toset an initial media quality of the media streaming session based on thenetwork assistance information received by the user equipment.

The user equipment may be operative to transmit, via the wirelessinterface, a network assistance request to obtain network assistancebased on information collected by a media streaming network assistancenode from at least one further user equipment during previous mediastreaming sessions.

A media streaming network assistance node according to an embodimentcomprises at least one processor to generate network assistanceinformation associated with a media streaming session for a userequipment. The media streaming network assistance node comprises aninterface to receive media streaming session related information fromthe user equipment. The media streaming network assistance nodecomprises a storage medium to store the media streaming session relatedinformation received from the user equipment. The least one processormay be operative to use the media streaming session related informationreceived from the user equipment to provide network assistanceinformation for media streaming.

A media streaming network assistance node having such a configurationreceives, in operation, media streaming session related information fromone or several user equipments, which allows the media streaming networkassistance node to generate network assistance information based oncharacteristics monitored by user equipments.

The at least one processor of the media streaming network assistancenode may be operative to derive statistical information from the mediastreaming session related information of a user equipment and furthermedia streaming session related information received from a plurality offurther user equipments.

The media streaming session related information may include informationon a time-dependent change of a buffer level in buffering performed bythe user equipment during the media streaming session.

The at least one processor of the media streaming network assistancenode may be operative to retrieve, from the media streaming sessionrelated information, a maximum buffer level of the user equipment in themedia streaming session to provide network assistance for buffering.

Alternatively or additionally, the at least one processor of the mediastreaming network assistance node may be operative to retrieve, from themedia streaming session related information, a minimum buffer level ofthe user equipment in the media streaming session to provide networkassistance for buffering.

Alternatively or additionally, the at least one processor of the mediastreaming network assistance node may be operative to retrieve, from themedia streaming session related information, an average buffer level ofthe user equipment in the media streaming session to provide networkassistance for buffering.

Alternatively or additionally, the at least one processor of the mediastreaming network assistance node may be operative to retrieve, from themedia streaming session related information, a time between userequipment initiated buffer refills in the media streaming session toprovide network assistance for buffering.

Alternatively or additionally, the at least one processor of the mediastreaming network assistance node may be operative to retrieve, from themedia streaming session related information, a number of segments perbuffer refill in the media streaming session to provide networkassistance for buffering.

Alternatively or additionally, the at least one processor of the mediastreaming network assistance node may be operative to retrieve, from themedia streaming session related information, a number of bufferunderruns in the media streaming session to provide network assistancefor buffering.

Alternatively or additionally, the at least one processor of the mediastreaming network assistance node may be operative to retrieve, from themedia streaming session related information, a duration of bufferunderruns in the media streaming session to provide network assistancefor buffering.

Alternatively or additionally, the at least one processor of the mediastreaming network assistance node may be operative to retrieve, from themedia streaming session related information, a quality of experienceindicator in the media streaming session to provide network assistancefor selecting an appropriate initial media quality.

The at least one processor of the media streaming network assistancenode may be operative to derive statistical information by processingthe media streaming session related information and further mediastreaming session related information received from further userequipments. Characteristics monitored by plural user equipments maythereby be taken into account for the provision of network assistance.

The media streaming network assistance node may provide networkassistance information which affects a buffering procedure performed bythe user equipment in the media streaming session.

Alternatively or additionally, the media streaming network assistancenode may provide network assistance information which affects an initialmedia quality selection of the user equipment in the media streamingsession.

The media streaming network assistance node may be a base station of acellular communication network, may be integrated in the base station ormay be directly or indirectly coupled to the base station. The basestation may be an eNodeB.

The media streaming network assistance node may be operative to generatethe network assistance information by means of mobile-edge-computing,MEC. Delays in the provision of the network assistance may thereby bereduced.

The media streaming network assistance node may comprise a furtherinterface for sharing data derived from the media streaming sessionrelated information with other network nodes or other servers connectedto a wide area network.

A system according to an embodiment comprises a user equipment accordingto an embodiment and a media streaming network assistance node accordingto an embodiment.

The media streaming network assistance node may be a cellular networknode.

The system may further comprise a media streaming server remote from themedia streaming network assistance node.

During a media streaming session, the user equipment may establish acommunication link to the media streaming server, and the user equipmentmay establish a further communication link to the media streamingnetwork assistance node.

A media streaming method according to an embodiment comprisesrequesting, by a user equipment, network assistance for a mediastreaming session. The method comprises receiving, by the userequipment, network assistance information. The method comprises setting,by the user equipment, at least one parameter for execution of the mediastreaming session as a function of the received network assistanceinformation. The method comprises generating, by the user equipment,media streaming session related information from characteristicsmonitored during the media streaming session. The method comprisestransmitting, by the user equipment, the media streaming session relatedinformation over the wireless interface to a radio access network forstorage.

The media streaming session related information may be based on amaximum buffer level of the user equipment in the media streamingsession.

Alternatively or additionally, the media streaming session relatedinformation may be based on a minimum buffer level of the user equipmentin the media streaming session.

Alternatively or additionally, the media streaming session relatedinformation may be based on an average buffer level of the userequipment in the media streaming session.

Alternatively or additionally, the media streaming session relatedinformation may be based on a time between user equipment initiatedbuffer refills.

Alternatively or additionally, the media streaming session relatedinformation may be based on a number of segments per buffer refill.

Alternatively or additionally, the media streaming session relatedinformation may be based on a number of buffer underruns.

Alternatively or additionally, the media streaming session relatedinformation may be based on durations of each buffer underrun.

Alternatively or additionally, the media streaming session relatedinformation may be based on a quality of experience indicator in themedia streaming session.

The media streaming method may further comprise using, by a mediastreaming network assistance node, the media streaming session relatedinformation to provide network assistance to the user equipment and/orto at least one further user equipment different from the userequipment.

The network assistance information may assist the user equipment inselecting at least one parameter of a buffering procedure and/or aninitial media quality.

The method may be performed by the user equipment, the media streamingnetwork assistance node or the system according to an embodiment.

The devices, systems and methods according to embodiments may be used inassociation with video streaming. In this case, the media is a video,the streaming server is a media streaming server, and the mediastreaming network assistance node is a media streaming networkassistance node. The video may include a sequence of images and,optionally, sound.

The devices, systems and methods according to embodiments may be used inassociation with audio streaming. In this case, the media is an audio,the streaming server is an audio streaming server, and the mediastreaming network assistance node is an audio streaming networkassistance node.

Devices, systems and methods according to embodiments are operative toprovide a user equipment with network assistance, with the providednetwork assistance being based on media streaming session relatedinformation previously reported by other user equipments or the sameuser equipment. The devices, systems and methods according toembodiments may be used to assist a user equipment to set a buffer levelup to which a buffer must be filled before playback of media is started,other buffering parameters, an initial media quality selection set bythe user equipment, or other parameters of a streaming algorithmexecuted by the user equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which the same or similar reference numeralsdesignate the same or similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram which shows a signalling in a system according to anembodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram which shows a signalling in a system according toan embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram which shows a signalling in a system according toan embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of a processing device of a userequipment according to an embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described with referenceto the drawings. While some embodiments will be described in the contextof specific fields of application, e.g. in the context of exemplaryradio access technologies, the embodiments are not limited to this fieldof application. The features of the various embodiments may be combinedwith each other unless specifically stated otherwise.

While embodiments will be described in the context of video streaming,the devices, systems and methods according to embodiments may also beused in association with audio streaming or other media or datastreaming.

While some embodiments will be described in which a video streamingsession assistance node is integrated with a radio access network (RAN)of a cellular communication network, other implementations of the videostreaming session assistance node may be used. For illustration, thevideo streaming assistance according to embodiments may also be providedin non-cellular networks, mesh networks, or other networks. The videostreaming assistance according to embodiments may also be implementedacross a Wi-Fi interface or other wireless local area network (WLAN)interface.

While some embodiments will be described in the context of assistinguser equipments to set a suitable buffering strategy or a suitableinitial video quality in a video streaming session, the embodiments arenot limited to these exemplary embodiments. Rather, a wide variety ofother parameters used by the user equipment to execute a video streamingsession may be determined based on characteristics reported by this userequipment or other user equipments to a video streaming sessionassistance node.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a communication system 1 according to anembodiment. The communication system 1 comprises a user equipment 2. Thecommunication system 1 may comprise at least one further user equipment3, 4. The communication system 1 comprises a cellular communicationnetwork. The cellular communication network has a radio access network(RAN). The radio access network includes a plurality of base stations11. A base station 11 is respectively operatively coupled to a corenetwork 12. The specific configuration of the cellular communicationnetwork, of the base station 11 and of the other nodes of the cellularcommunication network depends on the communication standard. Thecellular communication network may be a Long Term Evolution (LTE)network. In this case, the RAN is an evolved UMTS Terrestrial RadioAccess Network (eUTRAN), with the base stations 11 each being an evolvedNode B (eNodeB) connected to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) and/orServing Gateway (S-GW) in the core network 12. The cellularcommunication network may be an LTE-Advanced communication network.

The user equipment 2 is operative to establish a video streaming sessionwith a media streaming server 14. The media streaming server 14 may beconnected to a wide area network 13, e.g. the internet. The mediastreaming server 14 may be configured for video streaming towards theuser equipment 2. The user equipment 2 and the media streaming server 14may be coupled by an end-to-end communication link during the videostreaming session. The user equipment 2 may be operative to selectivelyestablish the end-to-end communication link with the media streamingserver 14 for the video streaming session.

More than one media streaming server 14 may be provided. Forillustration, there may be several different media streaming servers 14to store a video stream in different resolutions, with the end-to-endlink being established between the user equipment 2 and a mediastreaming server 14 which is selected in accordance with the videoquality at which the video is to be streamed to the user equipment 2.

A media streaming network assistance node 34 may be integrated in theradio access network or the core network 12 of the cellularcommunication network. The media streaming network assistance node 34may be integrated into the base station 11. The media streaming networkassistance node 34 may be implemented as a separate node which has aninterface for information sharing with one or more radio access networknodes.

As will be described in more detail below, the user equipment 2 isoperative to provide video streaming session related information to themedia streaming network assistance node 34. The user equipment 2 isoperative to receive, via the wireless interface, network assistanceinformation. The received network assistance information may begenerated by the media streaming network assistance node 34 based onvideo streaming session related information which was previouslyprovided to the media streaming network assistance node 34 by the userequipment 2 and/or one or several further user equipments 3, 4.

The user equipment 2 may be operative to set at least one parameter of avideo streaming session in dependence on the received network assistanceinformation. The user equipment 2 may be operative to set a buffer levelwhich must be reached before playback of a video is commenced independence on the received network assistance information. Alternativelyor additionally, the user equipment 2 may select a video quality fromamong a pre-defined set of video qualities available for the requestedvideo stream, based on the received network assistance information.Alternatively or additionally, the user equipment 2 may set anotherparameter value of a streaming procedure executed by the user equipment2 to perform streaming over the end-to-end link with the streamingserver 14, based on the network assistance information received from themedia streaming network assistance node 34 via a further communicationlink different from the end-to-end link with the streaming server 14.

As will be described in more detail below, the media streaming networkassistance node 34 may be operative to receive video streaming sessionrelated information from the user equipment 2. The video streamingsession related information received from the user equipment may dependon time-dependent variations in buffer level of the user equipment 2monitored by the user equipment 2 during the video streaming session.The video streaming session related information may depend on a Qualityof Experience (QoE) indicator, which may be derived from a user input atthe user equipment 2 or other user behaviour.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may be operative toreceive further video streaming session related information from atleast one further user equipment 3, 4.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may store and optionallyprocess the video streaming session related information received fromone or several user equipments 2-4 for use in generating networkassistance information during subsequent video streaming sessions. Themedia streaming network assistance node 34 may be operative to providenetwork assistance information to one or several user equipments 2-4 foruse in video streaming sessions. The media streaming network assistancenode 34 may be operative to generate the network assistance informationbased on the video streaming session related information received fromone or several user equipments 2-4 and, optionally, based on additionalinformation. The additional information may include measurementsperformed by the base station 11, measurements performed by otherentities in the radio access network, operating parameters of the basestation 11 or of other nodes of the cellular communication network. Theadditional information may include data received from another mediastreaming network assistance node which collects and processes videostreaming session related information for user equipments located inanother cell of the cellular communication network.

In a video streaming session, the user equipment 2 may be operative tocommunicate with the media streaming server 14 over a firstcommunication link and to communication with the media streaming networkassistance node 34 over a second communication link. The firstcommunication link and the second communication link may use differentprotocols. The first communication link may use an adaptive bit rate(ABR) protocol, e.g. MPEG DASH. The second communication link may use anetwork assistance protocol which supports the collection of videostreaming session related information by the media streaming networkassistance node 34 and which supports the provision of networkassistance information to the user equipment 2.

Various implementations of the media streaming network assistance node34 may be used in embodiments.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may comprise a storageunit in which information and data relating to video streaming sessionsmay be stored. The information and data includes video streaming sessionrelated information provided by the user equipments 2-4, but may includeadditional information.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may be a networkassistance server or may include several network assistance servers. Themedia streaming network assistance node 34 may include a data base. Thedata base may be cloud based. The data base may be implemented as aseparate hardware storage medium, may be part of existing registerfunctionality in e.g. the eNodeB 11, Packet Gateway, evolved PacketGateway or other network node. The data base can store dataindependently of user equipment and streaming server identities, or itcan map stored information to identifiers of the user equipment 2 and/orstreaming server 14. The data base can store video streaming relatedinformation in association with identifiers such as IMEI, UICC or IPinformation.

The functionalities of storage and user equipment feedback mechanismswithin the radio access network can also be implemented by means ofso-called mobile edge computing (MEC) solutions. With MEC architecturedecision logics and functionalities are included at the edge of a mobilenetwork, e.g. with application and cloud computing functions included insystem nodes within the mobile network architecture. This enables shortlatency and quick access to logical units described above.

The information stored by the media streaming network assistance node 34can be collected as video streaming session related information from theuser equipments 2-4. Additionally or alternatively, the user equipment 2can send specific information for storage by the media streaming networkassistance node 34.

The video streaming session related information may include a userequipment Identity such as IMEI, a user equipment profile from itsoperating system, a UICC ID, or another user equipment identifier.

The video streaming session related information may alternatively oradditionally include a service/application identity identifying thespecific services which require network assistance while being executedby the user equipment.

The video streaming session related information may alternatively oradditionally include media description information, e.g. segment length,audio/video quality levels, or other media related information which isreported by the user equipment to the media streaming network assistancenode.

The video streaming session related information may alternatively oradditionally include maximum, minimum, and/or average buffer levels ofthe user equipment buffer. The buffer level indicates the amount ofremaining playback time for locally stored streaming media within userequipment buffer.

The video streaming session related information may alternatively oradditionally include a time between consecutive user equipment initiatedbuffer refills.

The video streaming session related information may alternatively oradditionally include statistics on the number of segments per bufferrefill.

The video streaming session related information may alternatively oradditionally include number of buffer underruns and/or duration of eachunderrun. An underrun condition occurs when the buffer level reaches orfalls below a threshold which causes playback of the video to be paused.

Additional or alternative information elements relating to thecharacteristics of the user equipment upon execution of a streamingalgorithm may be included in the video streaming session relatedinformation.

In case specific information is sent from the user equipment 2 forstorage by the media streaming network assistance node 34 this can beany of above session related information sent in a specific storageprotocol message, as will be described in more detail below. For a mediastreaming network assistance node 34 implemented by mobile edgecomputing functionality, e.g. in an eNodeB, the video streaming sessionrelated information can be stored locally with low latency for accessand low total system control signalling load.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may be operative toanalyse the video streaming session related information received fromuser equipments. The media streaming network assistance node 34 may beoperative to process the video streaming session related informationreceived from user equipments into local and/or global video streamingrelated information. Local video streaming related information may berelated to a specific radio access network cell 10 or base station 11,or to a group of user equipments. The group of user equipments mayinclude all or a fraction of user equipments located in the respectivecell 10 which perform video streaming. The local video streaming relatedinformation may be generated by analysing how user equipments orspecific types of user equipments in the cell 10 perform buffering in avideo streaming session, for example. The local video streaming relatedinformation may define which buffer strategies would be suitable or evenoptimum for user equipments located in the respective cell 10, based onthe previously gathered video streaming session related information.Global information may include statistics derived from video streamingsession related information from a plurality of cells and userequipments, e.g., from all cells and user equipments located in apre-defined geographic area, which may be a certain country.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may be operative toassociate the stored video streaming session related information withnetwork specific parameters. One example of how this can be implementedis for the data base to collect and calculate statistics, e.g. of bufferusage or video quality settings, for respectively a plurality ofdifferent network characteristics. This can be implemented ascalculating statistical descriptions of the session related informationon cell level, on radio access technology level or on service level. AnaveragingB=Σ _(i=1) ^(N)μ_(i) B _(i)  (1)may be performed, where B_(i) is buffer level of user equipment i, N isthe total number of user equipments for which averaging is performedduring the averaging period, and μ_(i) are weighting factors. Theweighting factors may be selected to fulfilΣ_(i=1) ^(N)μ_(i)=1.  (2)

For illustration, each weighting factor may be set to be μ_(i)=1/N.

The averaging time over which the averaging is performed by the mediastreaming network assistance node 34 may be on the order of minutes,hours, or may exceed several hours.

The respectively determined averaged buffer level may be associated withnetwork characteristics during the time in which the averaging isperformed. Time-dependent variations in buffer level, averaged overseveral user equipments, may be associated with the respective radioaccess network conditions at that time to provide further improvednetwork assistance.

The averaging indicated in equations (1) and (2) is one example ofstatistics calculations performed by the media streaming networkassistance node 34. Other statistical parameters can be calculated bythe media streaming network assistance node 34 based on the videostreaming related information. The variance, the skew or otherindicators for the statistical distribution of reports video streamingsession related data may be computed, for example.

The cellular communication network may use the statistical informationdetermined by the media streaming network assistance node 34. The mediastreaming network assistance node 34 may provide other systems andinterfaces with local and global video streaming information.Alternatively or additionally, the media streaming network assistancenode 34 may provide further improved session related network assistance,in which user equipment(s) are assisted in identifying suitablebuffering strategies, initial video quality settings, or other streamingparameters based on previously collected video streaming session relatedinformation.

To this end, the media streaming network assistance node 34 may have afurther interface for sharing data derived from the video streamingsession related information that was received from user equipments. Forillustration, a media streaming network assistance node 34 associatedwith one or several base stations 11 may share the data with one orseveral other media streaming network assistance nodes that respectivelycollect and analyse video streaming session related information in othercells.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may be operative to sharedata derived from the video streaming session related information forresource reservation and/or allocation. For example the media streamingnetwork assistance node 34 may be logically and optionally alsophysically connected with a network packet data scheduler in the eNodeB.The eNodeB packet scheduler can get information about expected trafficrequests, user equipment buffer status, segment sizes or otherinformation to improve scheduling load estimates and reduce userequipment buffer underrun probabilities.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may be operative toassist user equipments 2-4 in selecting suitable streaming algorithmparameters. When a user equipment accesses a network or part of anetwork that includes network assistance, the stored information fromthe media streaming network assistance node 34 can be used by thenetwork to assist the device to more quickly select suitable parametersfor a video streaming session. For illustration, upon streaming sessionsetup the user equipment can get a response from the media streamingnetwork assistance node 34 which includes network assistance informationderived from previous video streaming session related information. E.g.,the response provided at setup of the streaming session can includeaverage user equipment related statistics from session relatedinformation, e.g. buffering levels (maximum, minimum, and/or average),number of segments downloaded per buffer refill activity, or any one ofa wide variety of other parameters.

While using a MEC architecture is one implementation example thatsimplifies the signalling and reduces latency compared with other cloudbased solutions, the media streaming network assistance node 34 may alsobe implemented at other locations, e.g. within the core network 12.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram view of the communication system 1 of FIG.1.

The user equipment 2 has a wireless interface 20. The wireless interface20 comprises an antenna 21, a receiver path 22 and a transmitter path23. The wireless interface 20 is operative to communicate with the basestations 11, 12. The wireless interface 20 may be configured forcommunication over the eUTRA air interface. The wireless interface 20may be operative to establish a first communication link with the mediastreaming server 14 in a video streaming session. The wireless interface20 may be operative to establish a second communication link with themedia streaming network assistance node 34 to provide video streamingsession related information to the media streaming network assistancenode 34 and/or to receive network assistance information from the mediastreaming network assistance node 34.

The user equipment 2 may be operative to receive network assistanceinformation via the receiver path 22. At least one processor 24 of theuser equipment 2 may use the network assistance information to setparameter(s) of a streaming procedure.

The parameter(s) may include one or several parameters associated withbuffering of video signals. For illustration, the buffer level to whicha buffer 25 must be filled with video data before the video is outputvia a display 26 may be determined based on the received networkassistance information provided by the media streaming networkassistance node 34. An initial video quality, selected from variousvideo quality levels such as high, medium, and low resolution, may beset based on the received network assistance information provided by themedia streaming network assistance node 34.

The user equipment 2 may be operative to receive signals carrying astream of video data via the wireless interface 20. The signals carryingthe stream of video data may be demodulated by the at least oneprocessor 24, may be buffered in the buffer 25, and may be read from thebuffer 25 for outputting via the display 26. Parameters of the streamingprocedure, such as segment lengths or other parameters, may be set independence on the received network assistance information provided bythe media streaming network assistance node 34.

The user equipment 2 may monitor characteristics during the videostreaming session. The characteristics may include a buffer level of thebuffer 25 or may be derived from the buffer level of the buffer 25. Thecharacteristics may be indicative of a QoE of a video. The QoE may bederived from a user input received at a user interface 27, which mayallow the user to rate the QoE. The QoE may be automatically derived,e.g. based on a number of pauses in the video playback required forbuffer refilling, based on whether the user interrupts or stops thevideo playback, or based on other criteria.

The user equipment 2 may be operative to control the transmit path 23 totransmit video streaming session related information to the mediastreaming network assistance node 34. The at least one processor 24 maygenerate the video streaming session related information based on themonitored characteristics.

The video streaming session related information may include anidentifier for the user equipment 2, for an application or serviceexecuted by the user equipment 2 which requests network assistance forvideo streaming, and/or information describing the media, which mayinclude information on segment lengths or other information. The atleast one processor 24 may be operative to control the transmit path 23to transmit such video streaming session related information.

The video streaming session assistance node 34 may be included in acellular network node, e.g. an eNodeB, or may be otherwisecommunicatively coupled to the cellular communication network. The videostreaming session assistance node 34 may be a server which is connectedto the radio access network or core network or which is integrated witha node of the radio access network or core network.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may comprise at least oneprocessor 35. The at least one processor 35 may be operative to processvideo streaming session related information provided by the userequipment 2. The at least one processor 35 may control storage of thevideo streaming session related information in a storage medium 36 whichmay be provided locally at the media streaming network assistance node34 or which may be remote from the media streaming network assistancenode 34, e.g. in a cloud.

The at least one processor 35 may process the video streaming sessionrelated information to provide network assistance to user equipments,cellular communication network nodes, or other entities. The at leastone processor 35 may derive statistical information from buffer levelsreported by plural user equipments to determine a suitable buffer levelat which a user equipment in the cell served by the eNodeB 11 may startoutputting the video via the display 26. The at least one processor 35may derive statistical information from QoE reported by plural userequipments to determine which video quality setting, e.g. high, mediumor low resolution, would be appropriate for video streaming to therespective user equipment.

The processing described above may be performed in dependence of thetype of user equipment. For illustration, the at least one processor 35may take into account the radio capabilities of the user equipmentswhich reported the video streaming session related information and ofthe user equipments which request network assistance for videostreaming.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may have an interface tooutput data usable by the user equipment 2 in identifying suitableparameters for the video streaming session. The media streaming networkassistance node 34 may be logically and possibly even physically coupledto a transmit path of a wireless interface 30 of the eNodeB, to causenetwork assistance information to be transmitted to the user equipment2. The media streaming network assistance node 34 may have anotherinterface which allows it to share data derived from the video streamingsession related information to other media streaming network assistancenodes, core network nodes, or servers. The media streaming networkassistance node 34 may be operative to communicate with a scheduler ofthe eNodeB, to allow the scheduler to perform resource reservationand/or allocation in dependence on the video streaming session relatedinformation received by the media streaming network assistance node 34.

The user equipment 2 and/or the media streaming network assistance node34 may be used in the system of FIG. 1. The user equipment 2 and/or themedia streaming network assistance node 34 may be operative to performany one of the processing acts described with reference to FIG. 1.

While a media streaming network assistance node 34 integral with a basestation is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the media streaming networkassistance node 34 may be integral with another radio access networknode or may be formed as a separate node having an information sharingconnection to one or more radio access network nodes.

While a cellular network is illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, thenetwork assistance and streaming related information may additionally oralternatively be transmitted over other wireless interfaces, e.g. usingthe Wi-Fi air interface.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method 40. The method 40 may be performed bythe user equipment 2.

At 41, the user equipment may transmit video streaming session relatedinformation to the cellular network. The user equipment may requeststorage of the video streaming session related information. The videostreaming session related information may include information on bufferusage of the user equipment and/or a quality of experience. The videostreaming session related information may optionally include anidentifier for the user equipment, the user equipment type (e.g. modelor operating system information), the service executed by the userequipment which requires network assistance, and/or media information onthe media of the media streaming session.

At 42, the user equipment may request network assistance. The networkassistance may be provided by the cellular communication network to theuser equipment to assist the user equipment in identifying suitable oreven optimum settings for a video streaming session. The networkassistance information received by the user equipment may be used by theuser equipment to identify at least one threshold for the buffer level.The network assistance information received by the user equipment may beused by the user equipment to identify a threshold which the bufferlevel must reach before outputting of the media is started. The networkassistance information received by the user equipment may be used by theuser equipment to identify which one of several available media qualitylevels, such as high, medium or low, should be the initial video qualitysetting.

While the video streaming session is in progress, the user equipment mayreport video streaming session related information to the cellularcommunication network for processing by the media streaming networkassistance node 34.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method 45. The method 45 may be performed bythe media streaming network assistance node 34.

At 46, the media streaming network assistance node 34 receives videostreaming session related information from a user equipment 2. The mediastreaming network assistance node 34 may receive further video streamingsession related information from at least one further user equipment 3,4. The media streaming network assistance node 34 may actively poll thevideo streaming session related information from one or several userequipments.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may receive the videostreaming session related information over a communication link which isdifferent from the end-to-end link established between the userequipment 2 and the media streaming server 14.

At 47, the media streaming network assistance node 34 may store thevideo streaming session related information received from one or severaluser equipments 2-4. The media streaming network assistance node 34 maystore the video streaming session related information locally at a nodein the radio access network or remotely from the media streaming networkassistance node 34, e.g. in a cloud.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may process the videostreaming session related information received from one or several userequipments 2-4. The media streaming network assistance node 34 mayprocess buffer levels or information indicative of a suitable videoquality setting. The video streaming session related information may beprocessed by averaging or other statistical operations. The mediastreaming network assistance node 34 may be operative to provide aresult of the processing to other entities in the network and/or toretrieve information on video streaming related information from othermedia streaming network assistance nodes.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may be operative tocorrelate the processed video streaming session related information withradio access network conditions. For illustration, the average bufferlevels or number of buffer underruns per time or the QoE indicator maybe respectively compared to the radio access network loads. Thisfacilitates the provision of network assistance for video streamingsessions, taking into account the radio access network conditions in thecell in which a user equipments requires network assistance.

At 48, the media streaming network assistance node 34 may providenetwork assistance for a video streaming session. The media streamingnetwork assistance node 34 may provide information to a user equipment 2which assists the user equipment to set at least one parameter of abuffering procedure. For illustration, the media streaming networkassistance node 34 may provide information to a user equipment 2 whichassists the user equipment in setting a threshold level to which thebuffer must be filled before media playback is started. The mediastreaming network assistance node 34 may provide information to a userequipment 2 which assists the user equipment in setting an initial videoquality for initiating the video streaming session. The user equipment 2may use this suggested video quality as a default for the respectivevideo streaming session, which may subsequently be changed by the user.

The network assistance provided by the media streaming networkassistance node 34 may be dependent on at least the video streamingsession related information provided by the user equipment 2 whichrequests network assistance and/or video streaming session relatedinformation provided by user equipments 3, 4 different from the onewhich requests network assistance. The type of user equipments and/orits hardware setup may be taken into account by the media streamingnetwork assistance node 34 to ensure that the network assistanceprovided to a user equipment 2 is appropriate for the capabilities andhardware of the respective user equipment 2.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method 50. The method may be performed bythe media streaming network assistance node 34.

At 51, the media streaming network assistance node 34 may receive videostreaming session related information from one or several UEs. The videostreaming session related information may respectively include bufferlevel information. The buffer level information may include informationon average buffer levels, maximum buffer levels, minimum buffer levels,a number of buffer underruns in which the buffer level falls below anunderrun threshold which triggers video playback to pause, a duration ofeach buffer underrun, an average duration of buffer underruns, or otherinformation derived from the time-varying buffer level.

At 52, the buffer level information may be stored and optionallyprocessed further. The processing may include deriving statisticalinformation, such as a mean value, a variance, a skew or otherstatistical values, from the reported buffer level information. Forillustration, a number of buffer underruns reported by user equipmentsin the same cell and/or of the same type may be averaged. The average,maximum or minimum buffer levels reported by several user equipments maybe averaged.

At 53, the media streaming network assistance node 34 may generatenetwork assistance information for transmission to the user equipment 2,to assist the user equipment 2 in setting buffering parameters. The userequipment 2 may be configured to set a threshold which must be reachedby the buffer level before the media outputting is started in dependenceon the received network assistance information.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method 55. The method may be performed bythe media streaming network assistance node 34.

At 56, the media streaming network assistance node 34 may receive videostreaming session related information from one or several UEs. The videostreaming session related information may respectively include QoEindicators. The QoE indicators may include information on a QoE for therespective video quality, e.g. a feedback on the video quality receivedfrom the user. The feedback may be derived from whether the userterminated the video streaming session, whether there have been frequentbuffer underruns, whether the user changed from a higher videoresolution to a lower video resolution, or other QoE indicators.

At 57, the QoE indicators may be stored and optionally processedfurther. The processing may include deriving statistical information,such as a mean value, a variance, a skew or other statistical values,from the reported QoE indicators.

At 58, the media streaming network assistance node 34 may generatenetwork assistance information for transmission to the user equipment 2,to assist the user equipment 2 in identifying streaming algorithmparameters. The user equipment 2 may be configured to set an initialvideo quality in dependence on the received network assistanceinformation.

Other video streaming session related information and/or other networkassistance information may be used. For illustration, information onsegment lengths in a video streaming session may be reported to andprocessed by the media streaming network assistance node 34.

In the methods of FIG. 3 to FIG. 6, one or several different messagesmay be used to transfer video streaming session related information fromthe UE to the media streaming network assistance node 34. The UE maytransmit video streaming session related information to the mediastreaming network assistance node 34 in a network assistance sessionsetup message. The UE may subsequently transmit video streaming sessionrelated information to the media streaming network assistance node 34 ina network assistance storage request, for example, as will be explainedin more detail with reference to FIG. 9 to FIG. 11 below. The mediastreaming network assistance node 34 may transmit assistance informationin a network assistance session setup response message or in a networkassistance response message, for example, as will be explained in moredetail with reference to FIG. 9 to FIG. 11 below.

In the devices, methods and systems explained with reference to FIG. 1to FIG. 6, the user equipment 2 may establish an end-to-endcommunication link with the media streaming server 14. The userequipment 2 may additionally establish a further communication link withthe media streaming network assistance node 34, over which networkassistance is provided to the user equipment 2 which assists the userequipment 2 in identifying suitable parameters for the video streamingsession.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the communication system 1 of FIG. 1 andFIG. 2. The user equipment 2 establishes an end-to-end communicationlink 61 with the media streaming server 14. The end-to-end communicationlink 61 may use an adaptive bit rate (ABR) protocol, e.g. MPEG DASH. Theuser equipment 2 establishes a second communication link 62 with themedia streaming network assistance node 34, over which the userequipment 2 provides video streaming related information to the mediastreaming network assistance node 34. A protocol used for the furthercommunication link 62 may be different from the ABR protocol on theend-to-end communication link 61. The user equipment 2 may utilizenetwork assistance information received from the media streaming networkassistance node 34 for improving the video streaming over the end-to-endcommunication link 61, based on video streaming related informationpreviously reported by the user equipment 2 and, optionally, other userequipments.

The signals carrying data in the end-to-end communication link 61 andthe signals carrying data in the further communication link 62 mayrespectively be radio signals transmitted over the air interface of theradio access network.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram view of a media streaming networkassistance node 34. The media streaming network assistance node 34 maybe used in the systems and methods of FIG. 1 to FIG. 7.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may include a sessionrelated network assistance module 63. The session related networkassistance module 63 may be operative to collect video streaming sessionrelated information from the user equipment 2. The session relatednetwork assistance module 63 may be operative to provide networkassistance information to the user equipment 2 to assist the userequipment 2 in adaptive streaming.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may comprise a firstinterface 65 over which the session related network assistance module 63collects the video streaming session related information from one orseveral user equipments and over which the media streaming networkassistance node 34 provides network assistance to one or several userequipments.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may include a datacollecting and providing module 64. The data collecting and providingmodule 64 may be operative to store video streaming session relatedinformation from the user equipment 2. The data collecting and providingmodule 64 may be operative to store data derived by processing the videostreaming session related information from one or several userequipments. The data collecting and providing module 64 may be operativeto provide the stored data to the session related network assistancemodule 63 when assistance is to be provided to the user equipment inadaptive streaming.

The session related network assistance module 63 may retrieve datastored by the data collecting and providing module 64 to generatenetwork assistance information.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may comprise a secondinterface 66 over which the data collecting and providing module 64 mayshare data with other media streaming network assistance nodes which maybe provided in the radio access network or outside of the radio accessnetwork.

FIG. 9 is a diagram 80 which shows a signalling in a communicationsystem according to an embodiment.

When a video streaming session is established, the user equipment 2 mayrequest assistance from the media streaming network assistance node 34.To set up a network assistance session, the user equipment 2 maytransmit a network assistance session setup message 81. The networkassistance session setup message 81 may include an identifier for theuser equipment and/or a service in the user equipment which requests thenetwork assistance and/or the video streaming session and/or the media.The network assistance session setup message 81 may include bufferparameters of the user equipment. Alternatively or additionally, thenetwork assistance session setup message 81 may include mediaparameters, such as a segment length of the media.

The media streaming network assistance node 34 may generate a networkassistance session setup response message 82. The network assistancesession setup response message 82 may include an ACK/NACK for the videosession setup. The network assistance session setup response message 82may optionally include network assistance information for use inadaptive streaming by the user equipment.

The network assistance information included in the network assistancesession setup response message 82 may include one or several bufferparameters. The buffer parameter(s) may allow the user equipment 2 todetermine a buffer filling level which must be reached before outputtingof the media is started, for example.

The network assistance information included in the network assistancesession setup response message 82 may include timing and/or segmentparameters. The timing and/or segment parameters may assist the userequipment 2 in determining suitable segment lengths of the media and/ora timing for the adaptive streaming.

The network assistance information included in the network assistancesession setup response message 82 may include an identifier for asuitable initial video quality setting. The user equipment 2 may use thevideo quality setting to determine which one of several pre-definedvideo quality levels should be selected.

During the network assistance session, the user equipment 2 may transmita network assistance request 83 to trigger the media streaming networkassistance node 34 to provide network assistance information. The userequipment 2 may include video streaming session related information inthe network assistance request 83. The video streaming session relatedinformation may be derived by the user equipment 2 from time-varyingbuffer levels of the buffer in which the video data are buffered, fromuser input, or from other characteristics monitored during the videostreaming session.

In response to the network assistance request 83, the media streamingnetwork assistance node 34 may transmit a network assistance responsemessage 84 which includes network assistance information for theadaptive bitrate streaming. The network assistance information mayinclude one or several parameters which the user equipment 2 can use inthe streaming algorithm. The network assistance response message 84 mayalso include media selection support, which assists the user equipmentin selecting appropriate media. For illustration, for media that areavailable in different quality levels, the media selection support mayassist the user equipment in selecting the appropriate quality level, atthe beginning of the video streaming session or during an ongoing videostreaming session.

FIG. 10 is a diagram 80 which shows a signalling in a communicationsystem according to an embodiment.

After the network assistance session has been set up, which may beperformed as described with reference to FIG. 9, the user equipment maytransmit a dedicated network assistance storage request 86 to causestorage of video streaming related information by the media streamingnetwork assistance node 34.

The network assistance storage request 86 may include video streamingsession related information which pertains to the status of the videostreaming session that is in progress. The video streaming sessionrelated information may be derived by the user equipment 2 fromtime-varying buffer levels of the buffer in which the video data arebuffered, from user input, or from other characteristics monitoredduring the video streaming session.

The video streaming session related information may indicate a maximumbuffer level of the user equipment in the media streaming session.Alternatively or additionally, the video streaming session relatedinformation may indicate a minimum buffer level of the user equipment inthe media streaming session. Alternatively or additionally, the videostreaming session related information may indicate an average bufferlevel of the user equipment in the media streaming session.Alternatively or additionally, the video streaming session relatedinformation may indicate a time between user equipment initiated bufferrefills. Alternatively or additionally, the video streaming sessionrelated information may indicate a number of segments per buffer refill.Alternatively or additionally, the video streaming session relatedinformation may indicate a number of buffer underruns. Alternatively oradditionally, the video streaming session related information mayindicate durations of each buffer underrun. Alternatively oradditionally, the video streaming session related information mayindicate a quality of experience indicator in the media streamingsession.

The network assistance storage request 86 may include an identifier forthe user equipment and/or an identifier for an application module of theuser equipment which requires the network assistance information.

In response to the network assistance storage request 86, the mediastreaming network assistance node 34 may transmit a network assistancestorage response message 87. The network assistance storage responsemessage 87 may include an acknowledgment status, such as ACK/NACK, forthe storage of the video streaming session related information. Thenetwork assistance storage response message 87 may, but does not need toinclude network assistance information which the user equipment uses foradaptive streaming.

FIG. 11 is a diagram 90 which shows a signalling in a communicationsystem according to an embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 11, after thenetwork assistance session has been established at 91, the userequipment may request network assistance at 92. Alternatively oradditionally, the user equipment may request storage of the videostreaming session related information at 93. The messages may beimplemented as described with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram representation 100 of a user equipment 2according to an embodiment.

The user equipment comprises a receive path 103 to receive video data ina video streaming session. The receive path 103 is operative to receivenetwork assistance information in a network assistance session, toassist in adaptive streaming. The video data may be buffered in a buffer104. A display control 107 may retrieve video data from the buffer 104for controlling a display 108.

The user equipment 2 comprises a streaming algorithm module 101, whichmay be executed by a processor. A streaming algorithm module 101 maycommunicate with a transmit and receive control 102, e.g. to establishan end-to-end link with a streaming server 14 or for adaptation of thestreaming over the end-to-end link with the streaming server 14.

One or several parameters of the streaming are set, by the userequipment, in dependence on network assistance information received atthe receive path 103. Segment lengths, timing information, bufferingparameters or video quality are exemplary for such parameters. Thestreaming algorithm module 101 may set one or several parameters of thestreaming algorithm in dependence on the received network assistance, asexplained with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 11 above.

The user equipment 2 may comprise an information aggregation module 110to monitor characteristics during the video streaming session. Theinformation aggregation module 110 may be operative to monitortime-dependent variations in buffer level to identify characteristicssuch as maximum, minimum or average buffer level. The informationaggregation module 110 may be operative to monitor time-dependentvariations in buffer level to identify characteristics such a number ofbuffer underruns and/or a duration of each buffer underrun. Theinformation aggregation module 110 may be operative to retrieve a QoEindicator from a QoE determination module 109. The QoE determinationmodule 109 may be operative to determine an indicator for the QoE basedon buffer underruns, user input, or other characteristics.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of a method 120. The method 120 may be performedby the media streaming network assistance node 34. The method 120 may beperformed at setup of a network assistance session.

At 121, a streaming session starts. The streaming session may beinitiated by the user equipment with or without network assistance.

At 122, a network assistance session setup is initiated, e.g. by theuser equipment. The media streaming network assistance node 34 mayreceive the network assistance session setup message 81.

At 123, the media streaming network assistance node 34 may determinewhether data derived from video streaming session related informationprovided by the user equipment which requests network assistance or byother user equipments is stored. At 125, if such statistical dataderived from video streaming session related information provided by oneor several user equipments is not available, the media streaming networkassistance node 34 may generate the network assistance session setupresponse message 82 such that it does not include network assistanceinformation that is based on video streaming session related informationfrom user equipments. The network assistance session setup responsemessage 82 may nevertheless still include network assistance informationthat depends on RAN parameters, for example, and which is not based onuser equipment reports.

At 124, if such statistical data derived from video streaming sessionrelated information provided by one or several user equipments isavailable, the media streaming network assistance node 34 may generatethe network assistance session setup response message 82 such that itinclude network assistance information. The network assistanceinformation may include one or several parameters which assist the userequipment 2 in adaptive streaming and/or which assist the user equipment2 in identifying suitable media, e.g. a video having a suitable qualitylevel.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart of a method 130. The method 130 may be performedby the media streaming network assistance node 34. The method 130 may beperformed after setup of a network assistance session. The various actsdescribed with reference to FIG. 14 may be performed after steps 124,125 of the method 120 of FIG. 13.

At 131, the media streaming network assistance node 34 may determinewhether a request message is received in the network assistance session.If no request message is received, the method may loop back to 131.

At 132, the media streaming network assistance node 34 may determinewhether the received message is a network assistance storage request 86.If the received message is a network assistance storage request 86, themedia streaming network assistance node 34 may retrieve the videostreaming session related information from the network assistancestorage request 86.

At 133, the media streaming network assistance node 34 may cause thevideo streaming session related information from the network assistancestorage request 86 to be stored. The information may be stored locallyin a storage medium of the media streaming network assistance node 34 orremotely from the media streaming network assistance node 34, e.g. in acloud.

At 134, the media streaming network assistance node 34 may optionallyprocess the received video streaming session related information. Theprocessing may include analysing the received video streaming sessionrelated information. One or several statistical operations, such asaveraging or determining a variance, may be performed. The mediastreaming network assistance node 34 may associate the processedstatistical information with radio access network conditions and/or typeinformation of user equipments. The statistical data may be stored. Themethod may return to 131.

At 135, the media streaming network assistance node 34 may determinewhether the received message is a network assistance request 83. At 136,if the received message is a network assistance request 83, the mediastreaming network assistance node 34 may access the collection ofnetwork assistance information which is based on the video streamingsession related information from one or several user equipments. Themedia streaming network assistance node 34 may generate networkassistance information which allows the user equipment to set one orseveral parameters for adaptive streaming. The buffer level at which thevideo outputting is started is one example for such a parameter. Segmentlength and/or timing information for the adaptive streaming are otherexamples. A suitable video quality setting is another example.

At 137, the media streaming network assistance node 34 may generate thenetwork assistance response 84 which includes the network assistanceinformation.

The generation of the network assistance response 84 may be performed independence on a location and/or type of the user equipment whichrequests the network assistance. For illustration, depending on the cellin which the user equipment is located and depending on the hardware orcapabilities of the requesting user equipment, the network assistanceresponse 84 may be generated based on video streaming session relatedinformation retrieved from user equipments in the same cell as therequesting user equipment and/or user equipments having at least asimilar hardware as the requesting user equipment.

Additional method steps may be implemented. For illustration, a timermay be started by the media streaming network assistance node 34 atnetwork assistance session start-up. Timeout of the timer may cause thenetwork assistance session to be terminated.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart of a method 140. The method 140 may be performedby the user equipment 2. The method 140 may be performed at setup of anetwork assistance session.

At 141, a streaming session starts. A network assistance session setupis initiated, e.g. by the user equipment 2. The user equipment 2 maytransmit the network assistance session setup message 81.

At 142, the user equipment 2 receives the network assistance sessionsetup response message 82.

At 143, the user equipment 2 may determine whether the networkassistance session setup response message 82 includes network assistanceinformation.

At 144, if the network assistance session setup response message 82 doesnot include network assistance information, the user equipment 2 mayconfigure streaming session parameters without network assistance.

At 145, if the network assistance session setup response message 82includes network assistance information, the user equipment 2 mayconfigure streaming session parameters based on the network assistanceinformation. For illustration, segment lengths, timing parameters,buffer strategies, and/or media selection may be performed in dependenceon the network assistance information.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of a method 150. The method 150 may be performedby the user equipment 2. The method 150 may be performed after setup ofa network assistance session. The various acts described with referenceto FIG. 14 may be performed after steps 144, 145 of the method 140 ofFIG. 15.

At 151, the user equipment may determine whether a first trigger eventfor requesting network assistance occurred. The first trigger event maybe timeout of a first timer or irregular conditions during the mediastreaming.

At 152, if the first trigger event occurred, the user equipment maygenerate the network assistance request 83. The network assistancerequest 83 may include video streaming session related information. Thenetwork assistance request 83 may include a user equipment identifier,an identifier for the application which requests network assistance, anidentifier for the video streaming session, or media descriptioninformation.

At 153, the user equipment may determine whether a second trigger eventfor requesting storage of media streaming session related informationoccurred. The second trigger event may be timeout of a second timer or auser input or a request issued by a video streaming application executedon the user equipment.

At 154, if the second trigger event occurred, the user equipment maygenerate the network assistance storage request 85. The networkassistance storage request 85 includes video streaming session relatedinformation. The network assistance storage request 85 may include auser equipment identifier, an identifier for the application whichrequests network assistance, an identifier for the video streamingsession, or media description information. The video streaming sessionrelated information may indicate a maximum buffer level of the userequipment in the media streaming session. Alternatively or additionally,the video streaming session related information may indicate a minimumbuffer level of the user equipment in the media streaming session.Alternatively or additionally, the video streaming session relatedinformation may indicate an average buffer level of the user equipmentin the media streaming session. Alternatively or additionally, the videostreaming session related information may indicate a time between userequipment initiated buffer refills. Alternatively or additionally, thevideo streaming session related information may indicate a number ofsegments per buffer refill. Alternatively or additionally, the videostreaming session related information may indicate a number of bufferunderruns. Alternatively or additionally, the video streaming sessionrelated information may indicate durations of each buffer underrun.Alternatively or additionally, the video streaming session relatedinformation may indicate a quality of experience indicator in the mediastreaming session.

At 155, a new network assistance session may be set up. This may beimplemented by performing the method 140 described with reference toFIG. 15.

Various effects are attained by the devices, methods and systemsaccording to embodiments. For illustration, network assistance may beprovided to user equipments for use in adaptive streaming, with theprovided network assistance being based on media streaming sessionrelated information previously reported by other user equipments or thesame user equipment.

While exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to thedrawings, modifications may be implemented in other embodiments. Forillustration, the media streaming network assistance node 34 does notneed to be integrated with the eNodeB, but may be provided in anothernode of the radio access network or even in the core network. The mediastreaming network assistance node 34 may be formed as a separate nodehaving an information sharing connection to one or more radio accessnetwork nodes.

For further illustration, while the techniques disclosed herein allownetwork assistance to be provided to a user equipment over the airinterface of a cellular communication network and/or allow mediastreaming session related information to be shared by the user equipmentover the air interface of the cellular communication network, thenetwork assistance and media streaming session related information mayadditionally or alternatively be transmitted over other radiointerfaces, e.g. Wi-Fi.

For further illustration, while the techniques disclosed herein may beused in association with streaming media which includes video, thetechniques may also be used for other media streaming, such as audiostreaming.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect tocertain preferred embodiments, equivalents and modifications will occurto others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of thespecification. The present invention includes all such equivalents andmodifications, and is limited only by the scope of the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A user equipment, comprising: a wirelessinterface over which communication with a radio access network is madefor a media streaming session between the user equipment and a mediastreaming server, wherein the media streaming server is connected to awide area network and the media streaming session is an end-to-endconnection between the user equipment and the media streaming server viathe radio access network, wherein, the user equipment receives, via thewireless interface, network assistance information from the radio accessnetwork for execution of the media streaming session, wherein thenetwork assistance information assists the user equipment to identify asuitable media quality, and wherein the user equipment executes logicto: generate media streaming session related information fromcharacteristics monitored during the media streaming session, the mediastreaming session related information including time-dependent changesof a buffer level during buffering in the media streaming session,transmit the media streaming session related information over thewireless interface to the radio access network for storage and forgeneration of the network assistance information by the radio accessnetwork, and set parameters for the media streaming session based on thenetwork assistance information, wherein the parameters include bufferingparameters of a buffering performed in the media streaming session and amedia quality of the media streaming session.
 2. The user equipment ofclaim 1, wherein the user equipment generates a storage requestincluding the media streaming session related information, the storagerequest causing storage of the media streaming session relatedinformation in a storage medium remote from the user equipment.
 3. Theuser equipment of claim 2, wherein the storage request causes a cellularnetwork node of the radio access network to store the media streamingsession related information in the storage medium.
 4. The user equipmentof claim 1, wherein the user equipment generates the media streamingsession related information based on at least one of the following: amaximum buffer level of the user equipment in the media streamingsession, a minimum buffer level of the user equipment in the mediastreaming session, an average buffer level of the user equipment in themedia streaming session, a time between user equipment initiated bufferrefills, a number of segments per buffer refill, a number of bufferunderruns, durations of each buffer underrun, and a quality ofexperience indicator in the media streaming session.
 5. The userequipment of claim 1, wherein the network assistance informationreceived by the user equipment is based on information associated with aprevious media streaming session reported by the user equipment and/orinformation associated with the previous media streaming sessionreported by at least one further user equipment different from the userequipment.
 6. The user equipment of claim 5, wherein the user equipmentsets at least one parameter of a streaming algorithm executed by theuser equipment during the media streaming session based on the networkassistance information received by the user equipment.
 7. The userequipment of claim 5, wherein the user equipment sets an initial mediaquality of the media streaming session based on the network assistanceinformation received by the user equipment.
 8. The user equipment ofclaim 1, wherein the user equipment transmits, via the wirelessinterface, a network assistance request to obtain network assistancebased on information collected by a media streaming network assistancenode from at least one further user equipment during previous mediastreaming sessions.
 9. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein the userequipment generates the media streaming session related informationbased on at least one of the following: an identifier for the userequipment and an identifier for an application module of the userequipment which requires the network assistance information.
 10. A mediastreaming network assistance node of a radio access network, comprising:at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor generatesnetwork assistance information associated with a media streaming sessionbetween a user equipment and a media streaming service connected to awide area network, the media streaming session being an end-to-endconnection between the user equipment and the media streaming serverconducted via the radio access network; and an interface to receivemedia streaming session related information from the user equipment, themedia streaming session related information including information on atime-dependent change of a buffer level in buffering performed by theuser equipment during the media streaming session; wherein the at leastone processor causes storage of the media streaming session relatedinformation received from the user equipment; and wherein the at leastone processor uses the media streaming session related informationreceived from the user equipment to provide network assistanceinformation for media streaming to the user equipment, wherein thenetwork assistance information affects at least a buffering procedureperformed by the user equipment in the media streaming session andassists the user equipment to identify a suitable media quality.
 11. Themedia streaming network assistance node of claim 10, wherein the atleast one processor derives statistical information from the mediastreaming session related information of a user equipment and furthermedia streaming session related information received from a plurality offurther user equipments.
 12. The media streaming network assistance nodeof claim 10, wherein the network assistance information further affectsan initial media quality selection of the user equipment in the mediastreaming session.
 13. The media streaming network assistance node ofclaim 10, wherein the media streaming network assistance node is a basestation of a cellular communication network, or wherein the mediastreaming network assistance node is coupled to a base station of thecellular communication network.
 14. The media streaming networkassistance node of claim 10, wherein the at least one processorgenerates the network assistance information by means ofmobile-edge-computing (MEC).
 15. A media streaming method, comprising:requesting, by a user equipment, network assistance from a radio accessnetwork for a media streaming session between the user equipment and amedia streaming server connected to a wide area network, the mediastreaming session being an end-to-end connection between the userequipment and the media streaming server conducted via the radio accessnetwork; receiving, by the user equipment, network assistanceinformation from the radio access network; setting, by the userequipment, at least one parameter for execution of the media streamingsession as a function of the received network assistance information;generating, by the user equipment, media streaming session relatedinformation from characteristics monitored during the media streamingsession, the media streaming session related information includinginformation on a time-dependent change of a buffer level in bufferingperformed by the user equipment during the media streaming session; andtransmitting, by the user equipment, the media streaming session relatedinformation over the wireless interface to the radio access network forstorage and for generation of the network assistance information by theradio access network, wherein the network assistance information assiststhe user equipment in selecting at least a parameter of a bufferingprocedure the media streaming session and a media quality of the mediastreaming session.
 16. The media streaming method of claim 15, the mediastreaming session related information being based on at least one of thefollowing: a maximum buffer level of the user equipment in the mediastreaming session, a minimum buffer level of the user equipment in themedia streaming session, an average buffer level of the user equipmentin the media streaming session, a time between user equipment initiatedbuffer refills, a number of segments per buffer refill, a number ofbuffer underruns, durations of each buffer underrun, and a quality ofexperience indicator in the media streaming session.
 17. The mediastreaming method of claim 15, further comprising: using, by a mediastreaming network assistance node of the radio access network, the mediastreaming session related information to provide network assistance tothe user equipment and/or to at least one further user equipmentdifferent from the user equipment.